W. Virginia QB Smith building a hefty Heisman resume

We had most of it right. This year's early Heisman Trophy favorite was identified correctly as the quarterback with "unfinished business."

He returned for his senior year to lead a high-octane offense, featuring the nation's best receiver tandem, on a national title quest.

We just had a messed-up GPS device.

He wasn't from Tinseltown. He was from Morgantown.

West Virginia quarterback Geno Smith didn't specifically mention the preseason fawning over USC quarterback Matt Barkley. Yet, on a conference call Tuesday, you could hear the indignation in his voice only a few days after throwing for 656 yards and eight touchdowns against Baylor.

Barkley's hype was understandable given that his return was a surprise. He also would be leading a team that capped a 10-2 season with a 50-0 victory over UCLA.

What other quarterback out there could match that kind of 2012 ramp up?

Smith saw one every morning in the mirror.

He ended his own junior year throwing for 407 yards and six touchdowns in a 70-33 triumph over Clemson in the Orange Bowl.

Yet all he heard in the offseason was crickets.

It wasn't just that. The chip Smith says he has carried on his shoulder since high school now includes being a three-year starter at West Virginia and not getting much ink for it.

As a sophomore and junior, Smith threw for 55 touchdowns with 14 interceptions.

Safe to say "people" are starting to warm up to Smith. It's difficult to imagine a quarterback having a better September.

Through four games, Smith has thrown for 1,728 yards. He has 20 touchdowns and no interceptions. He is completing 83 percent of his passes and last week blew the doors off America with his performance against Baylor.

Smith completed 45 of 51 passes, meaning he had two more touchdown throws than incomplete passes.

West Virginia plays at Texas on Saturday and it sounds as if Longhorns coach Mack Brown is conceding Smith the first 30 points.

In a month, Smith has swapped places with USC's Barkley and become the prohibitive Heisman Trophy favorite. Smith is the nation's leader in NCAA passing efficiency while Barkley languishes at No. 48.

Smith isn't buying any of this yet.

"I'm not going to get caught up in the hype," he said. "If I go out and do poorly in the next game, I'm pretty sure the storyline is going to be 'Geno fails.'"

Smith is making headlines with his two super receivers.

Tavon Austin and Stedman Bailey are Nos. 1 and 2 nationally in receptions per game. Bailey and Austin trail only Baylor's Terrance Williams in total receiving yards.

Bailey averages 158 yards per game to Austin's 140. They have combined for 17 TDs.

Smith calls Bailey "the best route runner in the country," and says Austin is so quick "he can make you miss in a phone booth."

Smith could not be any more of a Heisman front-runner than he is right now, but his first true test should come at Texas. The Longhorns are only No. 63 in defense but were supposed to be the Big 12's best unit after finishing 11th nationally last year.

West Virginia's offense also has Big 12 tests against Texas Tech, which has the nation's top-rated defense, and TCU, Oklahoma and Iowa State, with defenses rated Nos. 4, 12 and 18.

A lot of people aren't sure what to make of all these goofball numbers.

Last weekend was the second-highest scoring weekend since 1937, according to Elias Sports Bureau, with an average of 60.9 combined points scored for the 52 Football Bowl Subdivision games.

Alabama coach Nick Saban said defenses — other than his own — being run ragged by no-huddle offenses might become a safety concern.

"Is this what we want football to be?" Saban asked.

The collective answer appears to be "yes" for the time being.

The last time West Virginia visited Austin was Oct. 6, 1956. West Virginia won 7-6.

"They completed 4 of 9 passes for 46 yards," Mack Brown mused.

Today, somewhere in the "Fabulous 50s" better be your point total — at halftime.